CVE-2004-2025 in Zen Cart
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in application_top.php for Zen Cart 1.1.3 before patch 2 may allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the products_id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2025 represents a critical sql injection flaw in Zen Cart version 1.1.3 prior to patch 2, specifically affecting the application_top.php file. This vulnerability resides in the handling of the products_id parameter which is processed without adequate input validation or sanitization. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious sql commands directly into the application's database layer through the web interface, potentially compromising the entire backend system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper parameter handling within the application_top.php script where user-supplied data from the products_id parameter is directly incorporated into sql query construction without proper escaping or parameterization. This classic sql injection vector allows attackers to manipulate the intended database queries by appending malicious sql code to the products_id value. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it occurs in a core application file that handles product information retrieval, making it accessible through standard web browsing interfaces.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents severe consequences for affected systems. Attackers can exploit this weakness to extract sensitive data from the database including customer information, order details, and administrative credentials. The ability to execute arbitrary sql commands means that attackers could potentially modify or delete database records, insert new user accounts with administrative privileges, or even escalate their access to the underlying operating system if database server permissions are misconfigured. The remote nature of this attack vector eliminates the need for physical access or local system compromise, making it particularly attractive to cybercriminals.
The impact of CVE-2004-2025 aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities, and maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1071.004 for application layer protocol, T1190 for exploitation of remote services, and T1005 for data from local system. Organizations running vulnerable Zen Cart installations face significant risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential system compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and parameterized queries in web application development, particularly for e-commerce platforms handling sensitive customer data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch application to Zen Cart version 1.1.3 with patch 2 or later, which implements proper parameter sanitization for the products_id parameter. Additionally, organizations should implement web application firewalls to monitor and filter sql injection attempts, conduct regular security assessments of web applications, and establish proper input validation controls throughout the application code. Database access controls should be reviewed to ensure that application accounts have minimal required privileges, and regular security monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized database access attempts. The vulnerability underscores the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against sql injection attacks.